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Early Childhood Policy Research Reports

Early Childhood Policy Research Reports

Research reports document and synthesize empirical research and often render policy recommendations on issues of importance to young children and their families. Research reports provide in-depth documentations of research processes, data, and findings, and are often published by an organization, think tank, or consortium. If you are looking for rich empirical evidence on a particular issue related to early childhood policy (ECP), we invite you to explore these resources.

Currently Reading

Allen, R., Bucher, E.Z., Meek, S., Alexander, B., Ameley-Quaye, A., Soto-Boykin, X., Blevins, D., & Cardona, M. (September, 2024). Reimagining state child care licensing: Improving the foundation for quality and equity in early care and education environments. The Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University.
Kaneko, M., Lombardi, J., & Weisz, A. (2020, October). Support programs for home-based child care: A global study. Spring Impact & Echidna Giving.
Minoff, E., & Coccia, A. (2024, March). Strategies to compensate unpaid caregivers: A policy scan. Center for the Study of Social Policy.
Smith, L.K., Reef, G., Belcher-Badal, K., & Owen, R. (2024). In The Shadows: What We Know, Don’t Know, and Should Know About the Early Childhood Workforce. Bipartisan Policy Center.

Previously Shared

View Past Early Childhood Policy Research Reports

Aigner-Treworgy, S. Osborn, C., & Smith, L. (Nov 30 2023). Using Cost Modeling to Design New Solutions for Child Care. Bipartisan Policy Center: Washington, DC.
Ascend (May 2022). Toward a more equitable tomorrow: A landscape analysis of early childhood leadership. Aspen Institute.
Bipartisan Policy Center (Aug 2023). Apprenticeships: Building a Strong Child Care Workforce Pipeline.
Bipartisan Policy Center (May 2023). The Illusion of Parent Choice: Lessons Learned from BPC’s Parent Survey Series.
BUILD Initiative (Jul 2022). Bright spots: Exemplary supports for emerging bilingual learners. BUILD Initiative: Washington, DC.
Cardona, M., Meek, S., Smith, L., Fuentes, Y. S., & Bucher, E. (Oct 2022). POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO GROW EHS-CCP IN STATES.
Coffey, M. & Khattar, R. (Sep 2022). The child care sector will continue to struggle hiring staff unless it creates good jobs. Center for American Progress.
Friedman-Krauss, A. H., Barnett, S. W., Garver, K. A., Weisenfeld, G. G., Gardiner, B. A., & Jost, T. M. (April 2022). The state of preschool 2021: Executive summary. NIEER.
Gibbs, H., Johns, M., & Ahmed, O. (July 2022). A Strong Start in Life: How Public Health Policies Affect the Well-Being of Pregnancies and Families. Center for American Progress.
Grace, C., Thornburg, K., Keith, S. N., Altman, M., & Boyle, A. (2024, August 27). Head start report: Strengthening support for our youngest children.
Grunewald, R., Nunn, R., & Palmer, V. (2022). Examining teacher turnover in early care and education. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
Melnick, H., Garcia, E., & Leung-Gagné, M. (Aug 2022). Building a well-qualified transitional kindergarten workforce in California: Needs and opportunities. Learning Policy Institute.
Miller, K., & Schulman, K. (Apr 2022). Sustaining family, friend, and neighbor child care beyond the pandemic: Guidance and state models. National Women’s Law Center.
Muruvi, W., Powell, A., Kim, Y., Copeman Petig, A., & Austin, L.J.E. (2024). The Professional Well-Being of Early Educators in California: Early Educator Well-Being Series. Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley.
New America (Jan 2023). Supporting Linguistically Diverse Family Child Care Providers. Washington, DC.
Sandstrom, H., Kuhns, K., & Drukker, D. (2024). Turnover Patterns among Early Head Start Teachers and Home Visitors: A Snapshot before and after the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Urban Institute.
Schneider, A. & Gibbs, H. (Dec 2022). Disparities in Housing, Health Care, Child Care, and Economic Security Affect Babies for Life. Center for American Progress.
Schneider, A. & Gibbs, H. (Jun 2023). Strengthening Early Childhood Health, Housing, Education, and Economic Well-Being Through Holistic Public Policy. Center for American Progress.
Schulman, K. (Nov 2022). Child Care Rescue: How States Are Using Their American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Funds. National Women’s Law Center.
Silloway, T., & Szrom, J. (Jun 2022). Strengthening Families with Infants and Toddlers: A Policy Framework for States – Executive Summary. ZERO TO THREE: Washington, DC. ZERO TO THREE: Washington, DC.
Smith, L. K., & Osborn, C. (2024). Top-Down, bottom-up: Building a state child care center workforce. Bipartisan Policy Center. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/building-state-child-care-center-workforce/
Sweetland, J. & Kendall-Taylor, N. (Jun 2022). Talking about racism and early childhood development: Evidence-based strategies for science communication. Frameworks, Harvard Center on the Developing Child: Boston, MA.
Walsh, Smith, & Mercado (Jan 2023). Revisiting Integrated Efficient Early Care and Education Systems. Bipartisan Policy Center: Washington, DC.
Wilkinson, A., Laurore, J., Maxfield, E., Gross, E., Daily., S., & Keating, K. (2021, May 12). Racism creates inequities in maternal and child health, even before birth. Child Trends.
Zero to Three (Nov 2022). Social Determinants of Health for Infants and Toddlers.
Zero to Three (May 2022). State of babies yearbook 2022.
Zero to Three, CLASP (Feb 2022). Pathways to prosperity: Report from a convening on economic security for families with infants and toddlers.

Recommended Readings From Our Advisory Committee

Aisha Ray,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

BUILD Initiative. (2020, May). Project hope evaluation and documentation findings.

Linda K. Smith,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Smith, L. & McHenry, K. (2021). A cohesive vision for child care, head start, and pre-k: Making early investments that truly transform the early child care and education system. Bipartisan policy center.

Linda K. Smith,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Smith, L., Bagley, A., & Wolters, B. (2020). Child care in 25 states: What we know and don’t know: Quantifying the supply of, potential need for, and gaps in child care across the country. Bipartisan policy center.

Albert Wat,
ECPIHE Advisory Committee Member

Alliance for Early Success. (2020, September). Build stronger: A child care policy roadmap for transforming our nation’s child care system.

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